In the latest Breakthrough issue Cally mentions that he doesn't find it necessary to rebuild turkey legs on commercial mounts. However while viewing my collection of reference photos I can clearly see the thighs on most pictures of hens.(I'm working on a bearded hen this weekend). Will the leg skin distort terribly as it drys or will it just kind of dry the way it sits. I've never done a bird without rebuilding the legs but I'm always interested in trying a new technique. Thanks, Jim
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Yes I read the article and was a little surprised, I have since mounted 3 birds this way, a flying, hanging game mount, and gobbling on a limb. There is no visible difference, but start squeezing around and you will feel the difference. The last 2 1/2" of bone just past the knee joint has no meat, just bone and tendon. On most standing birds you will see about 2" of the leg or less. Really it is what you feel comforable with.
First, noone should be feeling the bird, is that how you get your thrills/
No seriously its simple to wrap them, paper towels, excelsor, tow, jute and twine thats all that needed.
Here is an after thought,once I visited a customers house and he had a Goose mounted by a noted Taxidermist is the area, he called my attention to the wing area, and started squeezing around,(I quess that makes 2 of us)it made the sound like some kind of a New Years Eve noise maker, he wasn`t happy and felt like he had been short-changed.I would definatly put something in place of the meat that was removed and replace with a firm material.
You could mold the legs in plaster, and make a foam casting.
I made a mold of a pair with "hardware silicone" and filled with bondo, I may do it again and make a model then mold in fiberglass for better foam castings.